The Ballard Terminal Railroad
As continued from my previous entry about walking the rails in Ballard, yesterday I walked the rest of the rails in Ballard. I saw many cool things, and learned about this railroad.
This shortline railroad, which is officially the Ballard Terminal Railroad, is a shortline that acquired the trackage rights from BSNF after they abandoned the track in 1997. The company was formed to support the three local industries that this shortline serves: Pioneer Western (a fish processor), Salmon Bay Gravel Co., and Olsen Furniture.
It is, as far as I can tell, operated by three guys. There are two switchers that are owned by this railroad company, the most prominent is the #98, the red Ballard Li’l Beaver, a EMD SW-1 600 HP switcher. It lives in a lot just off NW 45th St.
References:
- http://www.irta.org/irta/IRTAReport/1999-02.htm
- http://www.docwightman.com/railroad/btrr/rideonbtrr.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballard_Terminal_Railroad
Click the image to go to my flickr set about the Ballard Terminal Railroad.
